Mississippi Rebels celebrate near the end of the fourth quarter during the 2025 Sugar Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Georgia Bulldogs at Caesars Superdome. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Ole Miss' Sugar Bowl win over Georgia had the wildest ending

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated Jan 2, 2026 8:37 AM ET

Ole Miss came back to beat Georgia, 39-34, to win their College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., on Thursday in a game that featured a truly wild ending.

Ole Miss trailed at halftime but scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to go up 34-24 with 9:02 left. The Bulldogs responded with a touchdown and then added a field goal with 56 seconds left to tie the game. At that point, it looked like the game might head to overtime, but Trinidad Chambliss took his team down the field and got kicker Lucas Carneiro in position for a 47-yard field goal attempt, which he nailed with six seconds left.

The game seemed to be over after that, but it got extended twice.

First, Georgia tried to use a trick play on the kickoff return and did a throw-back across the field. The ball bounced around and then went out of bounds at the goal line for a safety.

Ole Miss players began to celebrate, thinking they had won the game, 39-34. But the officials reviewed the play and determined there was still one second left on the clock, so Georgia came out to try an onside kick. The Bulldogs recovered the kick, but things didn’t end there.

Next, the rules dictated that an extra play was needed because no time comes off the clock when the offensive team recovers an onside kick. Players who were celebrating, and the stage crew, had to be cleared off the field to make way for yet another play. On that one, the Bulldogs tried to do an exaggerated hook-and-ladder play that lasted a while before they were finally tackled to end the game.

Yes, Ole Miss celebrated three times, and Georgia had to go through the feeling of defeat three times before the game finally ended.

Now the Rebels will advance to the CFP semifinals to play Miami on Friday, Jan. 8. Oregon and Indiana will have a rematch the day before in the other semifinal game.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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